Li! «^1 LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 000D3E5bflH4 - .<^ o '^^.^^^'^ .* National Charter of the National Society of the Colonial Daughters of America National Charter of the National Society of the Colonial Daughters of America •if M 3 5 K/Ui 30 12Z3 COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY. Office of the Secretary of State. CERTIFICATE I, FRED A. VAUGHAN, Secretary of State for the Commonwealth of Kentucky, do certify that the foregoing writing has been carefully compared by me with the original record thereof, now in my official custody as Secretary of State and remain- ing on file in my office, and found to be a true and correct copy of the Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation of the "SOCIETY OF COLONIAL DAUGHTERS". IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have here- unto set my hand and affixed my official seal. Done at Frankfort this 23rd day of August, 1920. FRED A. VAUGHAN, Secretary of State. R. LEE STEWART. (SEAL) Asst. Sec'y of State. The National Society of aughters of Founders and Patriots of America* CONSTITUTION. Amended J908 dbartet* Washington, D. C, June 7, 1898. We, the undersigned, the majority being resi- dent in the District of Cokuiibia, hereby certify that Eugenia Washington, Helen M. Boynton and Pella H. Mason have associated themselves to- gether and founded a perpetual society to be known as the National Society of Daughters of Founders and Patriots of America. The objects of the Society are : To preserve the history of Colonial and Revolutionary times, to inculcate patriotism in the present generation, and in times of war to obtain and forward supplies for field hospitals. The number of its directors for the first and all succeeding years is : Nine active officers and nine councillors. Signed : Eugenia Washington, Helen M. Boynton, Pella H. Mason. Notary Public for the District, Thomas E. Roach. Notary Public for Milwaukee, Wisconsin. William W. Wight. JCnnhi All Mm THAT the undersigned, being more than two-thirds of the of- ficers of the "SOCIETY OF COLONIAL DAUGHTERS" and be- ing hereunto duly authorized, do hereby amend the Articles of Incor- poration of the "SOCIETY OF COLONIAL DAUGHTERS" dated May 7, 1907, as same appear in Cor- poration Book No. 3, page 383, of the records in the County Court Clerk's office in Newport, Kentucky, as follows: The name of said corporation is hereby declared to be the "NATION- AL SOCIETY OF THE COLONIAL DAUGHTERS OF AMERICA" in- stead and in lieu of said name as ap- pears in said original articles. Witness the hands of F. May Wash- ington, Secretary-General; Georgena H. Bailey, Registrar-General; Ann Taylor Hodge, Chairman - General; Mrs. Thos. P. Carothers, Historian- General, and Mary Florence Taney, President-General, who are the re- spective officers of said corporation and more than two-thirds of the of- ficers of said corporation and who are hereunto duly authorized by resolution at a regular meeting of said corporation. F. MAY WASHINGTON, Secretary-General. ANN TAYLOR HODGE. Chairman-General. GEORGENA H. BAILEY, Registrar-General. MARY FLORENCE TANEY, President-General. MRS. THOS. P. CAROTHERS, Historian-General. Copyright 1920. COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY, CAMPBELL COUNTY. I, Fred B. Bassmann, a Notary Public in and for said County and State, do cer- tify that the foregoing amendment to the Articles of Incorporation of The Society of Colonial Daughters, was this day produced to me in said County and State and ac- knowledged by F. May Washington, Secre- tary-General, Ann Taylor Hodge, Chairman- General, Georgena H. Bailey, Registrar- General, and Mrs. Thos. P. Carothers, His- torian-General, to be their act and deed. WITNESS my hand and seal of office, this 26th day of July, 1920. FRED B. BASSMAN, Notary Public in and (SEAL) for Campbell County ,Ky. My Commission expires February 11, 1924. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. I, Orren Wilson, a Notary Public in and for said County and State, do certify that the foregoing amendment to the Articles of Incorporation of The Society of Colonial Daughters, was this day produced to me in said County and State, and acknowledged by Mary Florence Taney, President-General, to be her act and deed. ORREN WILSON, (SEAL) Notary Public. My Commission expires October 28th, 1923. STATE OF KENTUCKY, ) CAMPBELL COUNTY. f ' ^ ' I, William Milius, Clerk of the County Court in and for the County aforesaid, do hereby certify that the foregoing Amend- ed Articles of Incorporation of The Society of Colonial Daughters were, on the 29th day of July, 1920, presented to me in my office, certified as above and lodged for record. Whereupon, the same, the foregoing cer- tificates and this certificate are duly re- corded in my office. Given under my hand and seal of office, this 29th day of July, 1920. WILLIAM MILIUS, Clerk. (SEAL) By H. R. OWEN, Deputy Clerk. STATE OF KENTUCKY. ) CAMPBELL COUNTY, f *^ * I, William Milius, Clerk of the County Court in and for the County aforesaid, do hereby certify that the foregoing is a full, complete and entire copy of the Amended Articles of Incorporation of The Society of Colonial Daughters, as appears of record in my office. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I William Milius, Clerk of the County Court of Camp- bell County, hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this 29th day of July, 1920. WILLIAM MILIUS. Clerk. (SEAL) By H. R. OWEN, Deputy Clerk. (tonetitution. ARTICLE I. Name. This organization shall be known as the Na- tional Society of Daughters of Founders and Patriots of America. ARTICLE II. Objects. Section i. To associate congenial women whose ancestors struggled together for life, liberty, home and happiness in this land when it was a new and unknown country, and whose lines of descent come through patriots who sustained the Colonies in the struggle for independence in the Revolu- tionary War. Sec. 2. To teach reverent regard for the names and history, character, deeds and heroism of the founders of this country and their patriotic de- scendants and to inculcate patriotism in the pres- ent and succeeding generations. Sec. 3. To discover and preserve family records and history otherwise unwritten and unknown, of the first Colonists, their ancestors and descend- ants. Sec. 4. To commemorate events of the history of the Colonies and of the Republic, and in times of war to obtain and forward supplies for field hospitals. Sec. 5. To meet together for debate on current ev^ents, criticism of books, historical purposes, and for social enjoyment. ARTICLE III. Membership. Section i. Eligibility for membership is founded upon descent from patriotic ancestry in unbroken line through the Colonial times and the Revolu- tionary War. Sec. 2. Any woman, above the age of eighteen years, of good moral character and reputation, is eligible to membership, provided that she is de- scended in the direct paternal line of either father or mother from an ancestor who settled in any of the Colonies now included in the United States of America, from the settlement of Jamestown, Va., May 13, 1607, to May 13, 1687, and provided that the intermediate ancestor in said direct line, at the call of the Colonists adhered as a patriot to their cause, in the Revolutionary War, which ended with the independence of the Colonies. Sec. 3. No person shall be admitted without previous investigation and ascertainment of her qualifications for membership. Sec. 4. Every applicant must state residence and postoffice address and must be recommended by a member of the society personally known to her and by a person of good standing and reputation in her own city or town. "The application papers must be sent to the National Treasurer of the Society, together with fees and dues, and passed by her to the National Registrar, marked 'paid.' The paper must be ac- companied by such historical information concern- ing the Colonial ancestor, and the Revolutionary ancestor or ancestors of the applicant, as .shall prove unfaltering patriotism." The application shall be examined and reported to the Executive Committee, approved or disap- proved according to the laws of the Society. Election must be by the Executive Committee and by ballot. Three negative ballots shall reject the applicant unless it shall afterwards be found by the Execu- tive Committee that they were cast under entire misapprehension of the facts in the case. No negative ballot shall be cast without reasons there- for being given to the Executive Committee, or, names of persons or societies through whom the Executive Committee can obtain confirmation of objections. Sec. 5. Application papers must be sworn to before a notary and countersigned by a genealo- gist. Official proof of services must be furnished with the application ; also references to authorities quoted to show line of descent. Sec. 6. Any member desiring to resign must send written notice of her desire to the National Registrar and to the Registrar of the Chapter of which she is a member, and they shall notify the Executive Committee. Resignations shall not be accepted if the member is in arrears for dues. Sec. 7. The first eighteen accepted applicants shall constitute the charter members of the Na- tional Society. ARTICLE IV. Organization. Section i. The National Society shall consist of— (a) The General Court which shall be known as the general Court of the National Society and shall consist of the three Founders of the So- ciety, the eighteen actual officers and councillors of the National Society, and all past National Presidents and National Vice-Presidents, also all actual Presidents and Vice-Presidents of the sev- eral Chapters and one delegate from each Chapter of the Society, provided that each and all shall be at the same time members in good standing in the National Society. Should the President, Vice-President, or dele- gate of Chapter find it impossible to attend any meeting of the General Court, the President of the Chapter shall have power to appoint a sub- stitute for each. (^) A Chapter in each State, District or Ter- ritory of the United States, each of which prefixed with the name of the political division in which it is located, shall be known as the Chapter of the National Society of Daughters of Founders and Patriots of America. (c) Members at large, i. e., all applicants duly qualified under the Constitution and accepted by the National Society, who have not joined any Chapter of the Society. id) The Executive Committee, which shall con- sist of the Founders, and all actual National Offi- cers and National Councillors of the National Society, and all actual Presidents and Vice-Presi- dents of the Chapters. Sec. 2. The officers of the National Society shall be a National President, a National Vice- President, a National Recording Secretary, a National Corresponding Secretary, a National Registrar, a National Treasurer, a National Historian, a National Chaplain, and a National Color-Bearer, each to hold office for two years and until her successor is elected and installed. And nine National Councillors each to hold office for three years, three to be elected each year. All these officers shall be ex oMcio officers of the General Court, and shall be eligible for re- election at the expiration of any term of office. Sec, 3. Each Chapter must have not less than nine members who are also accepted members of the National Society. The titles of Chapter offi- cers shall be the same as those of the National Society save that the word National shall be omitted. Chapters shall elect officers and enact by-laws in accordance with the National Constitu- tion. They shall notify the National Recording Secretary of all such elections and forward to her a copy of the by-laws. Sec. 4. Chapters may retain half the annual dues and half the life membership fees for local' uses. Sec. 5. The General Court shall be held in tke city of Washington on the 13th day of May in each year, or, if that date occurs on Sunday, the meeting shall be held on the Wednesday fol- lowing. One-fifth of those answering the roll- call at the opening of the General Court shall constitute a quorum. ARTICLE V. Pozvers and Duties. Section i. The National Society shall have ju- risdiction over all questions of eligibility re- ferred to it by the National Registrar and over all elections to membership. It shall, upon applica- tion of any nine members of the Society residing in any State, District or Territory, in which no Chapter exists, constitute them and those whom they may admit pursuant to the laws of the Society, into a Chapter for the political district in which they lieside, and no Chapter shall be formed without authorization of the National So- ciety and in perfect accordance with the Consti- tution. It shall issue the insignia and have sole power of action in the National as distinct from the Chapter affairs of the Society. The General Court shall exercise the powers of the National Society. Sec. 2. The Executive Committee shall exercise the powers of the National Society between the meetings of the General Court, and shall render a written report in outline of its action to the latter body at each annual meeting. It shall meet once each month from October to May, inclusive, for the transaction of business. Seven shall constitute a quorum. The National President shall preside, or in her absence or disability the National Vice- President. In the absence or disability of both, one of the nine National Councillors shall be elected to preside. Sec. 3. The National President, or in her ab- sence the National Vice-President, shall preside at all meetings of the General Court. In the absence of both, one of the nine National Councillors shall be elected to preside. The National President shall be a member ex-oMcio of all committees and shall have power to convene the General Court at her discretion or upon the written request of twelve members of the Society. The National Recording Secretary shall keep a record of all meetings of the Society, have charge of the seal, and give due notice of time of the holding of the General Court. She shall have charge of all documents and records of the Society •excepting those required to be deposited with the National Registrar. The National Corresponding Secretary shall "attend to all correspondence of the Society, per- form such other duties at may be directed by the General Court, and distribute supplies as directed by the Executive Committee. The National Registrar shall have custody of all applications for membership. She shall exam- ing, approve, or disapprove and certify them in the order in which they are presented, and report to the General Court or to the Executive Com- mittee. She shall keep a record of the name of each applicant and of dates of application, election, resignation and death of members. The National Treasurer shall collect all the 8 funds and securities of tiie Society and deposit them in a National bank to the credit of the Na- tional Society. She shall pay out such sums as the General Court or the Executive Committee shall order, keeping a full book account of re- ceipts and disbursements, and render a detailed statement at each annual meeting of all funds re- ceived, expended and on hand. The books of the National Treasurer shall be balanced each month, and shall at all times be open to the inspection of the General Court or its appointed representa- tive. No debts shall be contracted in the name of the Society except the ordinary current expenses. The National Historian shall keep a record of all historical celebrations of the Society, prepare for publication any papers it may see fit to pub- lish, and write each year in outline its history and achievements. The National Color-Bearer shall unfurl and raise the Flag at each meeting of the General Court immediately before the roll call, and each member in responding to her name shall rise and raise the right hand in token of allegiance. The Registrar, two Secretaries, Treasurer, and National Historian shall furnish from their rec- ords any needed information to the General Court or the Executive Committee. ARTICLE VI. Election of OMcers. Section i. The officers of the National Society shall be elected by ballot by a majority vote at the General Court. Vacancies occurring during the year may be filled for the remaining part of that year by appointment, such appointment to be made by the Executive Committee. Sec. 2. No vote shall be pledged beforehand, and no vote shall be taken on general questions affecting the Society, until there has been an op- portunity for full and free debate thereon. Sec. 3. Party politics and forms of religion shall not enter into elections. ARTICLE VII. Section i. The initiation fee shall be one dollar and the annual dues one dollar. This amount must be sent with application paper to the Nation- al Treasurer. Thereafter the annual dues must be paid to the National Treasurer each year, on or before the ist of May. Application and money will be returned if applicant is not elected. Sec. 2. The payment of twenty dollars shall constitute a life membership and shall release from all claims for dues thereafter. The name of any member who shall be one year in arrears, and shall fail, after proper notice, to pay the same within sixty days, shall be dropped from the roll. ARTICLE VIII. Alterations and Amendments. Section i. No alterations of, or amendments to, this Constitution can be made during the period ,betv/een the date of its adoption, June 7, 1898, and five years thereafter, and after any alteration or amendment, a period of five years shall inter- vene before further alteration or amendment, and no alteration or amendment shall be made at any time unless adopted by a three-quarters yote of the entire number of votes cast. Sec. 2. The General Court or the Executive Committee, or any Chapter of the Society, may propose an amendment or alteration, and action thereon shall be as follows : The National Cor- responding Secretary shall send a copy of the pro- posed amendment, stating the source from which n it emanated, to each Chapter and member-at- large of the Society, at least three moHths be- fore the next General Court. Each Chapter shall forward to the Executive Committee its total vote pro and con, and these votes, together with the votes of the members-at- large, shall be arranged in tabulated form by the Executive Committee, showing the total vote of the National Society pro and con, and such tabu- lated form shall be formally presented at the ensu- ing General Court and the result formally an- nounced. Due notice of such result shall be mailed to each Chapter of the Society and to each member-at-large. ARTICLE IX. Order of Business for General Court. 1. Roll Call — Salutation to the Flag. 2. The Lord's Prayer in concert. 3. Reading and approval of the minutes of the last meeting. 4. Report of Executive Committee. 5. Report of National Recording Secretary. 6. Report of National Corresponding Secretary. 7. Report of National Registrar. 8. Report of National Treasurer. 9. Report of National Historian. 10. Election of Officers. 11. New business. 12. The Star Spangled Banner. ARTICLE X. Motto. A PATRIA CONDITA. (From the founding of the country.) ARTICLE XI. Insignia. The Insignia is patented, and if obtained in any other way than upon written order of the National Registrar, will be illegal and unconstitu- tional, and any ornamentation or elaboration of the insignia other than that herein described shall be a violation of the spirit and the letter of this Constitution. Obverse. The insignia of the Society is formed by the combination of a gold, eight-pointed star in blue enamel, outlined in white, arranged to accommo- date eight small stars of red enamel, stars appear- ing between the points. These stars represent the eight provinces or settlements of America, prior to i6s7, to wit: Virginia, New York, Massa- chusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Maryland, Rhode Island, and Jersey. In the centre of the jewel, in relief, a colonist and a continental soldier 12 are depicted. Surrounding these is a blue enamel band upon which appear the words Daughters of Founders and Patriots of America 1607- 1898, i" letters and figures of gold. This in turn, is en- circled by a wreath of laurel. Reverse. The reverse shows an American eagle grasping a laurel branch and bunch of arrows and upon its breast a shield of red enamel, upon which the letters D. F. and P. appear in gold. The eagle is surrounded by a white enamel circle containing the motto of the Society, "a patria condita," in gold letters. ARTICLE XII. Colors. wide, divided equally into three colors — red, buflF, and blue. 13 ARTICLE XIII. Seal. The seal of the Society is 2 inches wide, con- taining the legend, The National Society o: Daughters of Founders and Patriots of America in a circle — the center represents A. M. Willard'< "The Spirit of yS," the Motto of the Society, ''A Patria Condita," appearing above the figures. ARTICLE XIV. Flag. The Star Spangled Banner. 14 g8 1